Spindle clutch



Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES GEORGE H. MAGRA'IH, OF\VHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS Application filed This invention relates tomeans for detachably connecting a bobbin to a spinning or twistingspindle, so that the bobbin may be centered and rotated therewith. Morespecifically, the invention relates to a type of spindle clutch in whicha yielding friction drive is provided between the bobbin and thespindle, my present invention being in the nature of an improvement overthe construction shown in my prior Patent No. 1,457,226.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved type of spindleclutch, so do signed that it will be effective in operation. economicalto manufacture, and of such con struction that ends of yarn woundthereon may be easily and quickly removed there from.

My invention further relates to arrange ments and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig.1 is a partial side elevation of a spin dle embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clutch casing member;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow4: in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the spring clutch fingers in extendedform;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a. plan view of the clutch fingers, positioned in their finalor operative relation.

Referring to the drawings, we have shoWn a portion of a spindle 10having a driving 40 member or whorl 11 fixed thereon, and provided witha recess 12 in its upper face portion. A casing 13 is mounted on thespindle 10, preferably with a tight force fit, and is provided with arecess 14 in its inner or lower 45 face.

Wall portions 15 extend downward from the casing 13 into the recess 12of the driving member 11. These wall portions are spaced apart toprovide slots or openings 16 and are preferably reduced in thickness attheir SPINDLE oLtI'roH Uhu October 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,725.

lower ends as indicated at 1?. The portions 17 may be bent outward at aslight angle to more firmly engage the surrounding structure if sodesired.

Spring clutch fingers 20 are mounted within the slots or recesses 16,said fingers being preferably formed on a connecting portion or member21. They may be conveniently blanked out in extended form as shown in Fig. 5, to be thereafter bent to the circular relation indicated in Fig.7. Each clutch finger 2-0 has a lug or projection 22 extending upwardlytherefrom for a purpose to be described. i

In assembling the parts, the annular con necting member 21 surrounds thelower end portions 17 of thewall sections 15, and said annular member isalso seated snugly in the recess 12, all as clearly indicated in F ig.2. The lugs 22 extend upward into the recess 14: of the casing and theclutch fingers are thus limited in their outward movement.

When a bobbin is forced downward on the spindle, the clutch fingers 20are yieldingly engaged and forced inward, thus centering the bobbin andproviding a friction drive therefor. The substantially straight fingers20 provide smooth and continuous outer surfaces over which coils ofyarn, accidentally wind about the spindle, may be readily removed.

The present construction is extremely simple to manufacture and isreadily assembled, the several parts co-operating to thereafter retainall parts of the device in operative relation.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as setforth in the claims, but what I claim is 1. A spindle having a drivingmember and a spindle clutch comprising a recessed casing fixed andcentered on said spindle and said driving member and having a pluralityof spaced vertical slots in the cylindrical side wall thereof, saidslots being closed at their upper ends and open at their lower ends, anda plurality of spring clutch fingers secured to said driving member attheir lower ends and axially centered thereby and extending upward insaid slots to directly engage a bobbin on said spindle, said fingershaving their upper end portions engaging said cas- 5 ing within saidcasing recess to limit outward yielding movement of said fingers.

2. A spindle having a driving member and a spindle clutch comprising arecessed casing fixed and centered on said spindle and 10 said drivingmember and having a plurality of spaced vertical slots in thecylindrical side wall thereof, said slots being closed at their upperends and open at their lower ends, and

a plurality of spring clutch fingers project- 15 ing upward from anannular member mounted on said driving member and axially centeredthereby, said fingers extending upward in said slots and directlyengaging the bobbin on said spindle and said fingers having so theirupper end portions engaging said cas sing Within said casing recess tolimit outward yielding movement of said fingers.

3. A spindle having a driving member with a recessed upper face, arecessed casing fixed on said spindle and having spaced wall portionsextending downward into the recess of said driving member, a pluralityof spring clutch fingers, and an annular member supporting said fingersand firmly 3o seated and centered in the recess of said driving memberand closely surrounding and centering said wall portion ends, saidclutch fingers presenting substantially unbroken and continuous outersurfaces directly engaging the bobbin on said spindle and having lugsprojecting upward into the recess of said casing to limit outwardyielding movement of said clutch fingers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- 49 fixed my signature.

GEORGE H. MAGRATH.

